Olubadan declares new monarchs as ‘fake’

The crisis rocking the Ibadan traditional
institution yesterday deepened as the
Olubadan, Saliu Adetunji, declared that he
would not recognise the 21 newly-installed
monarchs.

He spoke when over 300 Mogajis (family
heads) and youths protested against the mass
coronation in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The monarch described the beaded crowns
given to the new monarchs by the Oyo State
Governor, Abiola Ajimobi as “mere carton,”
and implored them to wait for their turns
before wearing the crown.

The Olubadan said: “Those who were crowned
some days ago knew within themselves that
they are wearing fake crowns. It is just a
carton crown. Why can’t they wait for their
turn? If you don’t wait for your turn, you will
be on the wrong side of destiny.”

The state government had, on August 27
installed members of Olubadan-in-council and
21 Baales as monarchs in Ibadan, in deference
to the position of Olubadan who opposed it.
Adetunji described the review of Olubadan
declaration as a “huge joke” to entertain those
who were not familiar with the tradition and
culture of the land.

According to him, it took him 40 years to climb
the rungs of the ladder that saw him wearing
the crown and wondered why his chiefs, who
knew the tradition should join in the mockery
of the age-long practice that was devoid of
crisis.
The Olubadan told the protesters at his
Popoyemoja palace that he became Mogaji in
1976 and waited till 2015 to be crowned as
Olubadan.

The protesters, under the aegis of Council of
Mogajis of Ibadanland and Integrity Youths of
Ibadanland, had earlier addressed a press
conference at the Nigerian Union of Journalists
(NUJ) Press Centre, Iyaganku.
Among the Mogajis who attended the briefing
was a former deputy governor, Hazeem
Gbolarunmi. Others are Moshood Akere,
Molade Adeyemi, Olawale Oladoja and Jelili
Adanla, Abass Oloko, Olasegun Ademola,
Badmos Adewale, Ifelere Osho and Lamidi
Olalekan.
The Mogajis displayed banners at the venue
and at the Olubadan palace, which reads:
“Poised to approach the court for a declaration
that the new Olubadan chieftaincy law is
unjust, unlawful, null and void.”

Gbolarunmi, who spoke on behalf of the
Mogajis said the visit to the Olubadan was to
show that he has the support of his people.